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Hi Bryan ... If you don't mind me asking about your labs would you mind telling us what the numbers are ?

You wrote that your doctor suggested you start meds ... do you intend to start ?

its on another thread but i tell you hear lol

first..the blood was taken back on may 19th...i got results on july 20th..more blood was taken and i go back for the results on aug 30th.my cd4 was 513 and my viral load was 204.but because the blood was old she took more to get a better picture of my numbers..

first..the blood was taken back on may 19th...i got results on july 20th..more blood was taken and i go back for the results on aug 30th.my cd4 was 513 and my viral load was 204.but because the blood was old she took more to get a better picture of my numbers..

That's kind of a long time..... normally it's 2 weeks from lab draw to results. The usual pattern is you go in for bloodwork, and then you go back for the doc and results.

You can focus on your HIV related numbers, but once you start meds it is nice to have a history to look back on if your numbers migrate up.

The thing to think about with meds is balancing the meds against the damage HIV does. The thinking is that over time, HIV wears down your immune system and so the earlier you start treatment the less damage it does.

Keep in mind:- I'm not a doctor or scientist- This isn't medical advice- I didn't stay at a Holiday Inn Express last night.

It is however my personal opinion.

In a nutshell, you are playing a game of chess. You vs. HIV. The idea is to run the clock out because HIV will eventually checkmate you. So, you want to strategize your moves to maximize your health and minimize side effects.

Two years ago I had the opinion that drug development was progressing nicely and that if I could delay things I'd have some new options presumably with fewer side effects. Unfortunately, Atripla and Truvada+PI have worked so well it makes testing the new drugs and bringing them to market hard. The way we do testing in the US is that the new drug has to be better then the current one or offer some clinical benefit such as better viral suppression. Right now Atripla delivers suppresion to below testable levels and that's hard to beat. You can't say, oh well Medicine X delivers suppression to below testable levels. That isn't any better....

Logged

Don't obsess over the wrong things. Life isn't about your numbers, it isn't about this forum, it isn't about someone's opinion. It's about getting out there and enjoying it. I am a person with HIV - not the other way around.

well im going to post my next set of numbers and the last ones so everyone here can see them and if more people tell me to start meds then i will (try)if more people tell me i should hold off then i will..

That didn't tell me anything i didn't already know..and the doctor asked me to explain HIV to her to see how much i know..i went on a like a 10 min. spell about HIV and she was surprised i knew so much and said that was about it..lol and she didnt tell me anything i didn't already know! (that kinda disappointed me)i mean i looked up information obsessively for 2 str8 mths!.lol i know more now then i have ever known about HIV and i hope as time goes on i will learn more!other then that im country i have always eaten healthy and now i do it hard core i have stopped drugs..i.e. weed/cigarettes/pills..etc.. because those things are unhealthy. i will still drink when i go out.but lets face it that never happens lol i dont really understand my labs all i know are the cd4 and viral load numbers but thats all i need to know right?

You may not have been given your lab results if you receive medicaid . I don't know about your state but in Alabama medicaid recipients are not allowed to get copy's of medical records . You can only sign a release for them to be sent/faxed to your other health care providers .

It however doesn't stop you from asking what your numbers are and writing it down for your own records .

WOW, are you sure? Given that Medicaid is a federally supported program I was under the impression they are required to produce your records for you. Now note, I have to sign a consent form for them to give ME my own copy of MY paperwork every time, which is a bit odd, imo, but I also deal with HIPAA in my work life and the federal standards all say that the patient has the right to their information. damn. z

WOW, are you sure? Given that Medicaid is a federally supported program I was under the impression they are required to produce your records for you. Now note, I have to sign a consent form for them to give ME my own copy of MY paperwork every time, which is a bit odd, imo, but I also deal with HIPAA in my work life and the federal standards all say that the patient has the right to their information. damn. z

That's my understanding of it all . Since medicaid is a state thing it could vary to some degree . I'm not on medicaid anymore but when I was and tight with my doctors they would useally let me have what I wanted if I signed a release but was told it was against the rules . I have been wrong before or at least misunderstood the facts . I would go look it up but reading through state pdf files are not my idea of a good time .

oh! And do you remember that horrible,lost,sad,shocked,crushed,i can't believe it, Im going to dye feeling you had when you were told that you are positive?How could you (even if the other person wants it) have unprotected sex with someone who is negative?

I think ANYONE that knows they have HIV and has unprotected sex is a scum bag. And YES I am passing judgement. Once you test poz you have an obligation and the law to NOT infect others. If your wish is to become super infected thats your insane desire but no one has the right to infect someone on purpose. Its a crime. I couldn't live with myself knowing I did that to someone.

I think ANYONE that knows they have HIV and has unprotected sex is a scum bag. And YES I am passing judgement. Once you test poz you have an obligation and the law to NOT infect others. If your wish is to become super infected thats your insane desire but no one has the right to infect someone on purpose. Its a crime. I couldn't live with myself knowing I did that to someone.

You just passed off opinion and judgement, as fact, in another thread: